Longines ambassador Stefanie Graf has been described as the greatest female tennis player in the history of the sport, with every conceivable title under her belt. However, ask Graf, 43, what she holds dearest to her heart and you’re likely to hear about her non-profit foundation, Children for Tomorrow, rather than gold medals. Now a wife (her husband is tennis legend Andre Agassi) and mother of two, Graf has turned her incredible drive and determination to improving the futures of children traumatized by war.
When Graf retired from tennis in 1999, she was already involved in charity work, particularly with a group of doctors from Hamburg in her native Germany. After meeting some of the children struggling to cope with the psychological impact of living through war, Graf decided the best way to make an impact was to set up her own foundation in concert with the Outpatient Clinic for Refugee Children and their Families at the University Clinics of Hamburg-Eppendorf and the World Health Organization.
Fifteen years on, Children for Tomorrow have set up projects helping traumatized children fleeing from war in Hamburg, Kosovo, Eritrea and Uganda. In the North-African country of Eritrea, a kindergarten project set up by the foundation has been chosen by government officials to model nationwide. As the foundation continues to grow, Graf hopes to fund a cadre of therapists to travel to war-torn countries, where children are often treated for their outer wounds but are left to struggle alone with the invisible wounds of psychological trauma.
In that aim, Graf has developed a strong relationship with luxury watchmakers Longines. Graf was named as an ambassador for the company, and they have since worked together to raise awareness of the work done by Children for Tomorrow. In an interview with Haute Living Magazine, Graf said of the company; “They’ve been incredible partners in helping me raise awareness of what I’m doing and the kids that are in dire need. Their desire to give back to the community and to others, their philanthropy work, has been incredible. Our strongest bond is in sharing those values.”
A beautiful and incredibly impressive woman, Graf also said that although she does like to dress up, her life now revolves around her children, her family and her charity work. In that regard, Longines is the perfect fit; for an elegant yet down-to-earth everyday look, Graf said simply “I love the Conquest.”
Longines ambassador Stefanie Graf wears the the stunning Conquest L3.280.0.57.7. To learn more about Children for Tomorrow, visit Longines’ website or the foundation’s website.
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